Safety kit assembly for automobile door locks

ABSTRACT

Kit members used to replace and convert conventional push-pull automobile door latches with operating vertical reciprocatable spindle means against internal accidental release or external unauthorized release. The conventional latch knob is first removed, thereby exposing the threaded end of the spindle at the usual opening formed in the door sill for connection with the kit members. The kit comprises a guide sleeve, a latch knob with a hollow shank with bifurcated end portions to thread on the exposed end of the spindle, shroud means around the latch knob with an opening to permit under knob engagement by suitable means, and a highly flexible grommet coupled with the shroud around the latch knob conformable to the exterior top surface of the door sill. The guide sleeve being snapped into place in response to downward pressure exerted on a split ring tool member against the bias of a tension spring and discarded prior to connection of the latch knob on the spindle with the coupled shroud and grommet. The guide sleeve having an adapter sleeve with elongated longitudinal slots carried thereby when an enlarged spindle hole is encountered in some makes of automobiles.

United States Patent Frederick Trinca [72] Inventor 6412 83rd St., Middle Village, N.Y. 10079 [21 Appl. No. 87,740 [22] Filed Nov. 9, 1970 [45] Patented Nov. 30, 1971 [54] SAFETY KIT ASSEMBLY FOR AUTOMOBILE 4 DIG. 2; 70/181,207. 208

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,834,628 5/1958 Paparelli 292/347 3,474,648 10} l 969 Trinca 70/181 2,676,479 4/1954 Bethune 70/181 Primary E.rnminer Robert L. Wolfe Attorney-Birch and Birch ABSTRACT: Kit members used to replace and convert conventional push-pull automobile door latches with operating vertical reciprocatable spindle means against internal accidental release or external unauthorized release. The conventional latch knob is first removed, thereby exposing the threaded end of the spindle at the usual opening formed in the door sill for connection with the kit members. The kit comprises a guide sleeve. a latch knob with a hollow shank with bifurcated end portions to thread on the exposed end of the spindle, shroud means around the latch knob with an opening to permit under knob engagement by suitable means, and a highly flexible grommet coupled with the shroud around the latch knob conformable to the exterior top surface of the door sill. The guide sleeve being snapped into place in response to downward pressure exerted on a split ring tool member against the bias of a tension spring and discarded prior to connection of the latch knob on the spindle with the coupled shroud and grommet. The guide sleeve having an adapter sleeve with elongated longitudinal slots carried thereby when an enlarged spindle hole is encountered in some makes of automobiles.

PATENTEU Nuv w I911 3. 623 758 SHEET 1 0F 2 29 INVENTOR FREDERICK TRINCA BY 5M WBM ATTORNEY SAFETY KIT ASSEMBLY FOR AUTOMOBILE DOOR LOCKS My invention relates to improvements in push-pull knob arrangements connected to a spindle means which locks the door when the knob is in its lower pushed-in position.

More particularly this invention is related to improvements in a replacement kit arrangement for the conventional pushpull knob, as in my prior U.S. Pat. No. 3,474,648 issued Oct. 28, 1969.

These kit means include novel assemblies of parts and tool members provided to replace the presently used push-pull door knob normally threaded on the standard threaded spindle of such door latch with a replacement door knob provided as part of the kit, whereby the door may be locked when closed against unauthorized release with the present novel kit assemblies in place on the spindle when the spindle is pushed down in the confines of the door sill collar. The raising of the door knob is prevented when the kit is attached, unless the knob is raised by suitable means engageable under the knob head through a slit, groove or the like formed in the panel sill collar member of the kit.

An object of this invention is to provide novel improved means to replace conventional push-pull knob means, whereby flexible sealing means in mated coupling relation are provided for sealing latch spindle openings in conventional door sills of varying sizes of different makes of automobiles.

Other objects and advantages are provided as set forth in my prior patent, such as to prevent accidental unlocking of the door from the inside, such as by children playing with the knob, or by an object inadvertently upwardly engaging the knob.

Also, the present arrangement prevents unauthorized unlocking of the door from the exterior of the vehicle by insertion of a wire or the like between the glass panels of the doors to raise the latch knob.

Still another object is to provide novel kit means, whereby the respective members may be installed upon replacement of the conventional knob by relatively unskilled persons with simple instructions.

These and still further objects, advantages and features of the invention will appear more. fully hereinafter from the description which follows considered together with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. I is an elevational view of the various of the disassembled array of kit members.

FIG. 2 is an elevational view of the shroud ring, tension spring and guide sleeve of the kit before insertion in the sill hole showing the grommet coupling lugs.

FIG. 3 is a top view of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a cross section view taken vertically along line 5 5 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a top view of the adapter tube shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a cross section view taken vertically ofline 77 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a top view of the door knob with the head and S- shaped tool slot therein.

FIG. 9 is a vertical cross section view taken along at line 9- 9 of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a top view of the flexible grommet and coupling elements before connection with the shroud ring.

FIG. 11 is a bottom view of the combination key and tool of the kit.

FIG. I2 is a longitudinal cross section view of the guide tube and its fingers in the process of installation in the door sill hole with the split washer tool of the kit, the tension spring, shroud ring and grommet before insertion of the latch knob on the lock spindle.

FIG. 13 is a longitudinal cross section view of the door sill after the installation has been completed according to FIG. 12, showing the screw driver key of the kit being used to install the latch knob on the lock spindle.

FIG. 14 is a similar cross section view to FIG. 13 after the kit parts are assembled and showing the latch knob raised by the key portion of the kit.

FIG. 15 is a modified embodiment of the assembled kit parts in longitudinal cross section showing the door sill on the driver's side of the automobile with a scallop formed opening in the shroud ring for the driver's thumb to enter under the latch knob head.

FIG. 16 is a longitudinal section of the assembled parts of the kit completely installed on the lock operating spindle ready to be pushed into the shroud ring to locked position.

FIG. 17 is a top view of the assembled parts taken on section line 17-l7 of FIG. 13.

Referring to the drawing and first with particular reference to the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. ll, 12 and 13 and with reference to the several units of the kit parts shown separately in FIGS. 1 to 11, inclusive, in conjunction with a typical door sill 11 having a latch means (not shown) lockable by means of a threaded spindle 12. This spindle is vertically moveable in an opening 13 formed in the door panel sill 14. The threaded spindle l2 conventionally carries a knob with a threaded bore (not shown) by means of which it can be lowered for locking and raised for unlocking the door latch mechanism.

In accordance with this invention the conventional knob is unscrewed from the spindle 12 and removed to be replaced by the several parts of the kit, which extend downward into the opening 13 for mounting in operative assembly on the spindle and on the door sill 14 around the periphery of the opening.

The several parts of the kit comprise a knob 16 with a hollow bore having lands or surfaces 25, 26, 27 and 28 for threading onto the spindle 12. Prior to the threaded attachment of the knob 16 a guide sleeve 20, see FIGS. 2, 5, and 12, with retaining spring fingers 21 and 22 is inserted in the opening 13. These ears of fingers flare outward under the inner wall of the panel at the opening, see FIG. 11. Two or more of such ears may be provided.

This sleeve 20 serves as a guide for the latch knob 16 with the tubular plastic shank 24 and the lands or surfaces 25, 26, 27 and 28 in the provision of a bifurcated end around which is mounted a tubular eyelet 29, see FIGS. 9, l2 and 13.

Prior to inserting the knob 16 in the opening into threaded engagement with the spindle, the guide sleeve 20, which is formed with flanged over spring retainer tabs 30, 31 and 32 is pressed downward by assembly split ring or washer 33 to compress a coil spring 34 to provide tension on the assembly as the spring fingers 21 and 22 snap outward under the interior side of the panel 11, see FIG. 11. The spring 34 is held captive by turned over lugs at the top of sleeve 20. After use of the washer 33, it is discarded or removed.

In situations where the hole in the door sill is larger than with some automobiles and adapter tube 36 may be fitted over the guide sleeve 20, see FIG. 7, to compensate such larger hole size. This adapter tube is preferably formed of plastic with longitudinal elongated openings 17 to 19 through which the fingers project after installation.

The bottom coil 37 of the conical tension spring 34 rests on the bottom surface 38 of a shroud ring 39 preferably formed of soft plastic material. The interior bottom edge of the shroud ring 39 is formed with coupling lugs 40 which mate with lugs 41 formed around the inner periphery of a flange or crown 43 formed inwardly ofa grommet 44 having a downwardly facing shoulder 45 which is preferably of highly flexible plastic and bears against the door sill adjacent the opening 13, see FIGS. 12 and 13, for example. This shroud ring 39 in FIGS. 12 and 13 is illustrated with a vertical slit 46 for reception of a combination release key 47 and a screwdriver end 48.

The key 47 is also formed with a lateral hook portion and an S-shaped tool screwdriver portion 48 to be inserted in the mated groove 49 of the knob head 16, as shown in FIG. 12, to screw thread the knob into position on the spindle 12 for final assembly after the guide sleeve has been snapped into position in the door against the tension of spring 34.

The grommet members 44 are formed of flexible plastic to promote conforming ability with the car door sills to which they may be applied. For example, some door sills are more rounded than others and when the grommets are made of flexible conformable material they fit snugly over the sill and around the latch opening with the assistance of the bias action of spring 34, so that only a key or the like inserted through a slit in the wall of the shroud ring 39 under the latch knob can raise the latch.

FIGS. to 17 relate to a modified form of a shroud ring formed with a scallop opening. This opening is provided for the kit means used to replace the conventional latch knob on the driver's side of the car and eliminates the need for a key device to raise the latch knob.

When providing a driver's thumb latch release, the remaining doors still require a tool or key release to raise the knob and this is of particular value for the driver to feel secure from release by small children in the car of the door locks.

There is thus provided a novel kit of parts including simple installation means, whereby a safety door knob is provided to prevent unauthorized persons from opening the automobile doors and also the prevention of children in the vehicle from opening the doors and tumbling from the vehicle while it is in motion. I

What i claim is:

l. A plurality of kit members for replacement of conventional push-pull door knobs from a conventional top threaded spindle of automobile door locking mechanisms, said spindle being vertically movable in a vertical opening formed in a horizontal door sill of the automobile, said kit members comprising the combination of a guide sleeve for receiving a replacement form of door knob formed with a hollow shank, said sleeve with top flanged parts being associated with a shroud member and coil tension spring means mounted within the shroud member and around a portion of said guide sleeve below said flanged parts, tool means to snap insert said guide sleeve and said shroud member into position in the opening of the door sill adapted to be removed after said replacement form of door knob has been applied to said spindle, and flexible sill confonning grommet means in mating coupling relation to the lower portion of said shroud member.

2. The combination as defined by claim 1 in which said guide sleeve is formed with outwardly flared fingers to compress and snap outward when forced downward through the door sill opening below the sill wall by said tool means.

3. The combination as defined by claim 1, in which said replaceable door knob hollow shank is longitudinally bifurcated to form thread-engaging land portions with the threads on said conventional spindle, and tubular means around said bifurcated portions of the said hollow shank.

4. The combination as defined by claim I, in which the shroud member is provided with a specially formed opening and said member receives and enshrouds said knob when pressed downward to lock the automobile door and means insertable in said opening to engage said knob to raise and unlock said door.

5. in combination with the conventional equipment of a push-pull knob operated door sill lock means, including a horizontal door sill with a vertical opening, a kit means for replacing the conventional push-pull knob comprising a guide sleeve insertable in the opening in the door sill, said sleeve being formed with outwardly flared spring fingers, said pushpull knob operated lock means including a spindle in said sill opening supporting said knob, a shroud ring on the sleeve, a tension spring on said sleeve engaged with said shroud ring, an adapter sleeve mounted on said guide sleeve, said adapter sleeve having elongated longitudinal slots for said fingers to extend from and serving to compensate for space provided by relatively larger sill holes in some cars, a latch knob with a hollow shank having bifurcated end portions in said sleeve threadable on the exposed end of said spindle, said shroud ring enclosing the knob and being coupled to a highly flexible grommet conformable by tension of said spring to the exterior top surface of a door Slll around an opening therein from which said spindle projects, and said shroud ring being formed with a slit for insertion of an element to engage under the said knob to unlock the lock means. 

1. A plurality of kit members for replacement of conventional push-pull door knobs from a conventional top threaded spindle of automobile door locking mechanisms, said spindle being vertically movable in a vertical opening formed in a horizontal door sill of the automobile, said kit members comprising the combination of a guide sleeve for receiving a replacement form of door knob formed with a hollow shank, said sleeve with top flanged parts being associated with a shroud member and coil tension spring means mounted within the shroud member and around a portion of said guide sleeve below said flanged parts, tool means to snap insert said guide sleeve and said shroud member into position in the opening of the door sill adapted to be removed after said replacement form of door knob has been applied to said spindle, and flexible sill conforming grommet means in mating coupling relation to the lower portion of said shroud member.
 2. The combination as defined by claim 1 in which said guide sleeve is formed with outwardly flared fingers to compress and snap outward when forced downwaRd through the door sill opening below the sill wall by said tool means.
 3. The combination as defined by claim 1, in which said replaceable door knob hollow shank is longitudinally bifurcated to form thread-engaging land portions with the threads on said conventional spindle, and tubular means around said bifurcated portions of the said hollow shank.
 4. The combination as defined by claim 1, in which the shroud member is provided with a specially formed opening and said member receives and enshrouds said knob when pressed downward to lock the automobile door and means insertable in said opening to engage said knob to raise and unlock said door.
 5. In combination with the conventional equipment of a push-pull knob operated door sill lock means, including a horizontal door sill with a vertical opening, a kit means for replacing the conventional push-pull knob comprising a guide sleeve insertable in the opening in the door sill, said sleeve being formed with outwardly flared spring fingers, said push-pull knob operated lock means including a spindle in said sill opening supporting said knob, a shroud ring on the sleeve, a tension spring on said sleeve engaged with said shroud ring, an adapter sleeve mounted on said guide sleeve, said adapter sleeve having elongated longitudinal slots for said fingers to extend from and serving to compensate for space provided by relatively larger sill holes in some cars, a latch knob with a hollow shank having bifurcated end portions in said sleeve threadable on the exposed end of said spindle, said shroud ring enclosing the knob and being coupled to a highly flexible grommet conformable by tension of said spring to the exterior top surface of a door sill around an opening therein from which said spindle projects, and said shroud ring being formed with a slit for insertion of an element to engage under the said knob to unlock the lock means. 